Project Title: Enhancing EMS Care in Rural West-Central Missouri
Project Summary: Through this project, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (GVMH) will enhance the capabilities EMS personnel responding to mental health crises and substance use disorder emergencies in Western Missouri. Specifically, GVMH will facilitate the training of new Paramedics, as well as the administration of overdose reversal, trauma-informed care, and Community Paramedic training for EMS personnel.
Geographic Catchment Area: GVMH is based in Clinton, Missouri, and operates a 56-bed hospital and 24/7 emergency department. GVMH acts as the primary provider of EMS services to Henry County, MO and Benton County, MO, which will serve as the geographic catchment area for this project. In addition to being designated as rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), these counties have also been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for primary care and mental health care, based in part on their low-income populations. Notably, Benton County has also been designated as a Medically Underserved Area by HRSA.
Population of Focus: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Henry County has a population of 22,438 and Benton County has a population of 20,224. Critically, both areas are at a relative disadvantage when comparing key socioeconomic indicators to state-wide and nation-wide measures. The U.S. Census Bureau projects approximately 22.2% of Henry County's population is age 65 or older. This demographic is even larger in Benton County, with 31 percent (nearly a third of the population), age 65 or older. Recognizing that this age group constitutes a significant portion of the population of the geographic catchment area, as well as the significant health needs typically attributed to this age demographic, individuals aged 65 or older in Henry and Benton Counties will serve as the population of focus for enhanced EMS training.
Project Goals and Measurable Objectives: GVMH proposes with the goal of enhancing the capabilities of the system's EMS personnel to respond to mental health crises and substance use disorder emergencies, while also developing the skills of existing personnel and increasing the number of trained Paramedics employed by GVMH. The proposed project would include (a) the administration of EMS training to 28 unique individuals total; (b) Community Paramedic Training of 10 participants; (b) Naloxone training to 28 participants; EMT-to-Paramedic Bridge Program to two (2) participants; (d) PHTLS Training to 28 participants; (e) 28 unduplicated individuals trained in total; and (f) additionally, the project will include the purchase of four (4) automated CPR devices and the purchase of 192 Naloxone kits.
Implementation Strategies: GVMH will leverage its own internal training capabilities for the administration of Community Paramedic Training and Naloxone Training. Additionally, GVMH will partner with Central Jackson County Fire Protection District for the EMT-to-Paramedic Bridge Program and LifeFlight Eagle for the PHTLS Course. These activities will be facilitated by a Project Director and training personnel within the 12-month project period.